NANTWICH Town are poised to appoint their new manager – with a brief to reach the Conference Premier within three years.

A shortlist of eight people, believed to include former Crewe Alex players Dave Brammer and Kevin Street, ex-Port Vale manager Dean Glover and former Alex assistant academy director Terry McPhillips, are set to be interviewed by the end of the week.

All four were at the Weaver Stadium for the club’s friendly with Crewe Alex on Sunday. Former West Ham defender Julian Dicks and ex-Peterborough boss Steve Bleasedale have also been linked with the job and current assistant Pete Hall is in the running.

Chairman Clive Jackson will set the manager a clear task to get the Dabbers into the non-league’s top division within three seasons and says he does not want a coach looking to use Nantwich as a stepping stone.

He said: “We have eight shortlisted from 30 so we hope to complete interviews by the end of the week. We had a good volume and quality of candidates, and there are some good people who applied who won’t get an interview.

“It speaks volumes for the club that those type of people are interested in the job. We are looking for a manager who is committed to getting two promotions in the next three seasons. That would take us to the Conference.

“We want someone who is committed to three seasons, not someone who will be gone at Christmas. We want someone who will grow with the club and then move on if and when the time is right.”

The Dabbers enjoyed quick success under Steve Davis, who in four years led them to two successive promotions, an FA Vase, a Cheshire Senior Cup and a UniBond Premier play-off final place.

Mr Jackson said he wants the same kind of determination to succeed that Davis had. He said: “I think a lot of them will have to think about what the job is – I don’t think they realise the amount of hours Steve spent coaching young kids then coming back here late at night to switch the lights off.

“We have a total open mind on it. It is up to people to convince us they are the right person. Our facilities are second to none outside the Conference and we try to build the club the right way.

“Steve got the squad sorted out before he went so whoever comes here has a great set of players to work with.”

Nantwich take on Alsager Town at Wood Park on Saturday at 3pm before Northwich Victoria visit the Weaver Stadium next Tuesday. Kick off 7.45pm.